Will this matter?

[Niles22]

I just found out that I should have a volunteer position at my police department starting in a few weeks. Not as an officer, but its something similar to the reserve program.

I went in for an interview and background check and all that fun stuff and I am a little worried about something because they asked a lot of questions about it. I was in counseling for a while due to an incident when I was younger where I was sexually assaulted. I had started drinking a lot to deal with it but once they helped me out, I completely turned around and was fine. I've spent a few years volunteering as a rape crisis counselor and I do ok with that, feel like I've dealt with everything alright.

If I were to apply for a LE position, do you think there would be any concern about this being in my past?

[Whitebear]

depends how old are now and of the delay that it happen till today

[Legoate]

Did you have to take a psych eval to get your new job? Every department that I know of requires a psych eval prior to taking a sworn position. The shrinks are the ones who decide if your past is a problem or not based on their evaluation of you.

So, I guess it all depends on what they think.

[Niles22]

I was 16 when it happened. Im almost 22 now. I haven't had any problems since. No legal trouble, no drug use, no alcohol problems or anything like that. I didn't have to take an "official" psych eval since it's not a sworn position but they just asked a lot of questions about it during the interview.

I start the 20th of this month so I guess they weren't to overly concerned about it, but I know once I start this I am probably going to want to continue on to a sworn position at some point. Are the psych evals hard to pass?

[Cat_Doc]

Niles,

Being the victim of a terrible crime when you were 16 holds no bearing on this, at all, with the possible exception you would have to be careful to remain objective and not allow personal tragedy to influence your decisions while investigating sex crimes of a similar nature.

Other than the above, I see absolutely no issues at all with your pursuit of a law enforcement career.

The best of luck.

[phantasm]

Anytime anyone goes to a counselor of any type (outside of a paster/priest/rabbi) its subject to scrutiny during the psych eval of background investigations. It doesn't mean that you're not hireable. Many people have been put on psych hold or pysch review with departments just waiting for records or whatever. As long as you weren't disagnosed with anything that could be detrimental or taken medication for it, you should be perfectly fine.

[Niles22]

Well that makes me feel a lot better about it. Never diagnosed with anything, no medication. Hopefully this oppurtunity to work with the police department over the summer will help me get my foot in the door and give me a little insight on how I am going to react to things.

[TX-LEO]

If I were to apply for a LE position, do you think there would be any concern about this being in my past?

Nope. Especially since you would not be a Law enforcement officer.

[chiefhuntr]

What ever your past, dont let it stop you from following your dreams. You will never get hired if you dont apply. ;)